BANGUED, Abra  (PIA) –- There is no  need to place Abra under Comelec, announced Commission on Elections Chairperson Saidamen Balt Pangarungan following  his engagement with top  officials of  the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army.

 Pangarungan visited the province last week to unite local candidates towards a peaceful, honest, fair, credible and free upcoming elections. This after the March 30 standoff between the police and bodyguards of Pilar, Abra Vice Mayor Jaja Josefina Disono when they ignored a Comelec checkpoint.

Pangarungan assured that the COMELEC will take necessary actions to safeguard the forthcoming May 9 national and local elections (NLE).

“I assure you that the COMELEC takes this seriously and will take necessary actions to ensure that this kind of violence does not threaten the forthcoming elections,” he stressed.   

Pangarungan urged all local candidates to unite to eliminate the bad image of the province during election times.
 
“Abra has been associated with election-related violence in the past, so I now call on all candidates to work together to erase the moniker of notoriety,” he said.

 Pangarungan also held an exclusive meeting with the Office of the Abra Provincial Election Supervisor led by Atty. Ricardo Lampac and the municipal election officers of the province to address election-related issues and concerns in their respective area of responsibility.

“Nakausap ko ang ating mga leading Generals ng AFP at PNP at Director ng COMELEC na hindi kailangan ideklara ang Abra under COMELEC control,” he stated.

Pangarunan reminded that President Rodrigo Duterte himself will deal with those who will disrupt the conduct of free elections.
 
“Remember, paulit-ulit na sinabi ni President na iyong mga gagawa ng violence to disrupt the elections, siya mismo ang pupunta at ibang usapan na yan kasi Commander in Chief ang pupunta so full force and AFP at PNP,” he said. (JDP/CAGT–PIA CAR, Abra)